Anthony Mederos

AP Literature

Ms. O’Keefe

January 15, 2018

Society Portrayal of Minorities

In Arthur Miller’s ​The Crucible ​there is negative connotation being portrayed to the only

minority and this could be seen in the real world with minorities being portrayed in a negative

light. In Miller’s ​The Crucible ​there is a negative light being portrayed to the only minority who

is African American, Tituba. She is being portrayed as the one who is part of the witch craft.

This can be seen from a sociological perspective because of how society portrays minorities in a

negative light.

Minorities being portrayed in a bad light does not only happen in book like ​The Crucible

there are many example of it happening in the real world. Minorities are portrayed in a negative

light such as African Americans who are portrayed as thugs in movies. African are portrayed in a

negative light as Tituba was portrayed in ​The Crucible, ​in films there has been examples where

African Americans are portrayed as the gang members and the thugs. “​An astounding 62 percent

of all actors who were credited as "gang member" are black. Related credits — "gangster" (61

percent black), "gangbanger" (60 percent), and "thug" (66 percent) — drew similar results.

Interestingly, another related term we looked at, the slightly more dignified "henchman," was 81

percent white and only 4 percent black.​”(Crockett 1). This is showing how in films similar to the

play the crucible the minorities in specific African Americans are being portrayed as thugs and
gang members due to the idea/stereotype of African Americans coming from the “Hood/Ghetto”

being part of that specific lifestyle.

Not only in movies are minorities being portrayed in a negative light but also in the real

world where if you’re a minority included in a mass shooting you’re either a thug or a terrorist.

“On Friday, Department of Justice spokeswoman Emily Pierce ​acknowledged​ that the Charleston

shooting “was undoubtedly designed to strike fear and terror into this community” (though

terrorism is not among the nine murder charges brought against Roof, so far). And now that Roof

has admitted ​to killing those people to start a “race war,”.” (Butler 1). This article was

mentioning the Charleston church shooting with the kid who was not labeled as a terrorist, but as

mentally ill. This is showing how since it wasn’t a minority there was no negative light being

portrayed to the caucasian. In a similar case the shooter was labeled as a thug but for being a

African American and Muslims being portrayed as terrorist “"terrorist" was used 35 times,

describing Muslim shooters 37 percent of the time, black shooters 34 percent of the time and

white shooters 17 percent of the time. "thug" was used 57 times in the stories, 53 percent of

which described black shooters, 28 percent described Hispanic shooters and 16 percent described

white shooters. "mental illness" was used 46 times in the stories, 80 percent of which described

white shooters, 16 percent described black shooters and 4 percent described Muslim shooters.”

(Hurst 1). This is showing how there is negative light being portrayed to minorities in the real

world.

In ​The Crucible​ Tituba is portrayed as the one who is with the devil, although it’s not

being a thug there is still negative light being portrayed to the minorities. In the text it mentions

what others believe about Tituba. In ​The Crucible ​Tituba is being portrayed as a with and is
instantly blamed by Abigail “She made me do it ! She made Betty do it !, Tituba, Abby!.

Abigail: She makes me drink Blood !” (Miller Act 1, 40-41). This is Tituba being accused as a

witch and Tituba is the only African American in the book and is being shown as a witch. This

accusation that could cost Tituba her life and this a common pattern that occurs in society with

there being minorities being shown in a negative light.

This from a sociological perspective can be seen as a conflict theory. “​A conflict theory

perspective of U.S. history would examine the numerous past and current struggles between the

white ruling class and racial and ethnic minorities,” (Lumen 1). This explains why there is that

negative light because U.S. history is the cause for the struggle between white ruling class and

ethnic minorities. This is explains how the conflicts allows the minorities to be shown in a

negative light and it’s still not fixed in society as there is still struggles.

From a sociological perspective due to the conflict theory minorities are being portrayed

in a negative light. This is what was part of our history as it is seen in the play ​The Crucible, ​and

is also seen in films today and news articles today as well.

Works Cited
 Butler, Anthea. “Shooters of color are called 'terrorists' and 'thugs.' Why are white

shooters called 'mentally ill'?” ​The Washington Post​, WP Company, 18 June 2015,

www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/06/18/call-the-charleston-church-shooting-w

hat-it-is-terrorism/?utm_term=.78505fa4394e.

Crockett, Zachary. “"Gang member" and "thug" roles in film are disproportionately

played by black actors.” ​Vox​, Vox, 13 Sept. 2016,

www.vox.com/2016/9/13/12889478/black-actors-typecasting.

Learning, Lumen. “Theories of Race and Ethnicity.” ​Theories of Race and Ethnicity |

Introduction to Sociology​,

courses.lumenlearning.com/sociology/chapter/theories-of-race-and-ethnicity/.

“Media portrayal of public shooters can perpetuate stereotypes.” ​Phys.org - News and

Articles on Science and Technology​,

phys.org/news/2017-04-media-portrayal-shooters-perpetuate-stereotypes.html.